Lubricating device



Dec. 3l, 1929.

M. J. HENRY LUBRIGATING DEVICE I Filed April 9, 1927 INVENTOR.

W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUBRICATING DEVICE Application filed April 9,

My invention relates to improvements in lubricating devices. It is of the type having an internally threaded container for lubricating material, and having :a removable screw plug adapted to force grease through the discharge opening of the container body.

It is particularly well adapted for use on the side bar of a locomotive.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide novel means for releasably locking the screw plug from unscrewing arranged to permit the plug to be screwed inwardly with out having torelease the locking means therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind described which is simple, cheap, durable, strong, not liable to get out of order through the jarring and use to which it is subjected, which is easy to op- '2 crate, is efficient in operation, and which may be readily applied to locomotive side bars now in use, with small alterations thereof.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, showing a portion of a locomotive side bar provided with my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

Fig. .3 is aperspective view of the guiding screw and its locking pin.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a wrench adapted for use in turning the screw plug.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different-views.

The lubricant container may be a side bar 1 of a locomotive having therein a threaded hole 2, the inner end of which terminates in a reduced passage 3 which leads to the point where the lubricant is to be used.

Removably and rotatably fitted in the threaded hole 1 is a screw plug 4, which is provided with suitable means for being turned, such as a square hole 5 adapted to receive the'square shank of a wrench 6, Fig. 4.

The outer end of the screw plug 4 is pro- 50 vided with an annular guide, preferably an 1927. Serial. No. 182,352.

annular groove which is concentric with the axis of the plug 4, and which is provided with a bottom inclined portion, two being shown in the drawing and designated by 7, each inclined portion corresponding in direction of lead to the lead of the thread of the screw plug4, and each terminating at its deepest end in a wall 8, which serves as abutment adapted to be engaged by the arm 9 of a U shaped locking member, for holding the plug 4 from unscrewing.

I he other arm 10 of the U shaped locking member is slidable and rotatable in a longitudinal hole 11 whichextends through a screw 12, which is fitted removably in the threaded outer end of a hole 13, which is parallel with the hole 2 and is located in the side bar 1 adjacent to the hole 2.

For locking the screw 12 from unscrewing, it is provided with a longitudinal peripheral groove 14 in which is adapted to be fitted an externally threaded locking pin 15, which screws into the hole 13 with the screw 12, and which is adapted to be bent laterally so as to enter a groove 16in the side bar 1.

For normally forcing the U shaped locking member so that the arm 9 thereof shall bear against the screw plug 4, a coil spring 17 encircles the arm 10 and bears at its lower end against a washer 18, with which the arm is provided, the upper end of the spring bearing against the inner end of the screw 12.

In theoperation oi the device, the locking member has its arm 10 pulled outwardly until the arm 9 clears the plug 4, after which the locking member is revolved on the arm 10 so that the arm 9 will be out of the path of the screw plug 4. The latter may now be unscrewed with the wrench 6 inserted in the square hole 5, and the plug is removed. Grease is now placed in the hole 2, after which the plug 4 is replaced and screwed inwardly, so as to force grease out of the hole 2 through the passage 3.

The U shaped locking member is then re volved on its arm 10 until the arm 9 is over one of the inclined portions 7 of the annular groove. The spring 17 is then permitted to force the locking member so that the arm 9 enters the annular groove and rests at its inner end upon the adjacent inclined portion 7 thereof. It the plug is jarred so as to cause it to unscrew, the arm 9 will engage the adjacent wall 8 which will hold the plug from further unscrewing.

When it is desired to again turn the screw plug 4 so as to force more grease through the passage 3, the wrench 6 is again inserted into the hole 5 and is turned so as to force the plug 4, further into the hole 5. This turning is permitted by the arm 9 passing upwardly in the portion 7 in which it is located and away from the wall 8 at the deepest part of said portion 7.

Continued turning in the same direction of the plug 4 will cause the arm 9 to drop into the other inclined portion 7 of the circular groove, after which the other wall 8 will prevent the plug t from retracting more than a part of a half circle from any position in which it may be left.

While my improvement is shown applied to a side bar, it will be ElJVlOlKS that the grease container may be of any desired form suitable for the purpose in view.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. In a lubricating device, a container hav ing a threaded hole, a screw plug removably and rotatably fitted in said hole and having in its outer end an annular groove having therein an abutment, and releasable looking means adapted for travel in said groove and to engage said abutment to hold said plug from unscrewing.

2. In a lubricating device, a container having a threaded hole, a screw plug removably and rotatably fitted in said hole and having in its outer end an annular groove having an inclined portion terminating at one end in a wall and corresponding in direction of lead to the lead of the thread of said plug and releasable means adapted for travel in said groove and to engage said wall to hold said plug from unscrewing.

3. In a lubricating device, a container having a threaded hole, a screw plug removably and rotatably fitted in said hole and having in its outer end an annular groove concentric with the axis of said plug and having an inclined bottom portion corresponding in direction oflead to the lead of the thread of said plug and terminating at one end in a wall, and releasable means adapted for travel in said groove and to engage said wall to hold the plug from unscrewing.

4. In a lubricating device, a container having a threaded hole, a screw plug rotatably and removably fitted in said hole and having in its outer end an annular groove having therein an abutment, a U shaped member one arm of which is adapted to travel in said groove and to engage said abutment for holding the plug from unscrewing and the other arm of which is slidably and rotatably mounted in said container and resilient means for normally forcing said U shaped member inwardly into contact with said plug.

5. In a lubricating device, a container having a threaded hole, a screw plug rotatably and removably fitted in said hole and having in its outer end an annular groove concentric with the axis of said plug and having an in clined bottom portion having a direction of lead corresponding with the lead of the thread of said plug and terminating at one end in a wall, a U shaped locking member one arm of which is adapted for travel in said groove and to engage said wall for holding said plug from unscrewing, a screw mounted in said container parallel with said hole and having therethrough a longitudinal hole in which the other arm of said locking member is slidable and rotatable, and a spring bearing against said screw and against said locking member for normally forcing the latteragainst said plug.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MARION J. HENRY, 

